I Tried 4 Popular Methods for Cleaning a Coffee Maker, and There Was a Clear Winner

My husband Dave became a self-proclaimed coffee snob during the 2020 lockdown, which means I’m always on the lookout for great beans and unique coffee accessories. For his birthday in October, I surprised him with the Bodum 12-Cup Coffee Maker — and as a coffee lover, he couldn’t have been happier. As someone who loves cute kitchen decor, I was thrilled, too. But there was one unexpected downside: A light-colored coffee maker shows everything. And pretty quickly, I realized that my usual cleaning methods weren’t cutting it.

Dave and I make coffee about five times a week, so our machine gets a lot of use. Although I had cleaned it once before in late November, it already felt like it needed something more thorough (especially since we live in an area with relatively hard water). So I decided to test the most popular coffee maker cleaning methods and products to see what actually worked. Surprisingly, the winner turned out to be a simple, food-grade product.

I tested four different cleaning methods over the course of 12 days. I used the coffee maker as normal (six cups every three days), then cleaned it using one method before moving on to the next. Before testing, I had only cleaned the machine once using a basic vinegar and water mixture.

How I rated them: Each method was scored on a scale of 1 to 5 (with 5 being the best), based on overall effectiveness, convenience, and time spent.

Rating: 2.5/5

Method: I mixed one part water with one part vinegar and filled the reservoir. Following The Kitchn’s method, I ran a half cycle, let the solution sit, completed the cycle, then ran a full cycle with distilled water.

How it went: This was the method I’d already used once before, so I expected decent results. Instead, I was disappointed by how much debris remained in the chamber. While the water in the pot looked cleaner after the rinse cycle, I still had doubts about how clean the internal parts actually were.

Rating: 3/5

Method: Following the instructions on the Affresh box, I filled the reservoir to the max line with water, dropped in a tablet, ran a brew cycle, discarded the water, and followed with another full cycle using distilled water.

How it went: I had used these tablets several times in the past and have always liked how easy they are to use (no measuring or mixing required). I could see the fizzing action in the reservoir, but the chamber still looked fairly dirty. That said, I did notice that my coffee brewed faster the next day, which suggested it helped clear some internal buildup.

Rating: 4/5

Method: I followed the Durgol label instructions for cleaning coffee machines, using 8 ounces of solution per cup of cold water. After discarding the dirty brew, I ran two full rinse cycles with distilled water.

How it went: This one clearly worked. The scent was strong, and the performance matched it (it removed far more debris than the vinegar or tablet methods). Like I did with the Affresh tablet method, I noticed faster brewing afterward. I also tested this on a shower head with mineral buildup and saw an immediate difference, which confirmed it was effectively removing limescale.

Rating: 5/5

Method: Because the package didn’t include instructions, I researched a few methods and used two tablespoons of citric acid mixed with four cups of water. I ran a brew cycle, discarded the dirty water, then ran a full rinse cycle with distilled water.

How it went: This one shocked me. I’d only ever seen citric acid as an ingredient in other cleaners — but it performed better than every other method I tried. Nearly all the debris disappeared from the chamber, and the machine actually smelled clean afterward. I also appreciate this product’s eco-friendliness and versatility (it can be used for candy-making, as a natural preservative, and even to make bath bombs).  

For regular maintenance, citric acid is hands down the best method I tested. It removed the most debris, smelled clean, and felt like the most effective all-around solution. That said, if your coffee maker or espresso machine has heavy mineral or limescale buildup, a dedicated descaling solution like Durgol is still a great option. For me, though, the winner was clear — and this simple, food-grade ingredient is now a permanent part of my coffee maker cleaning routine.